Unsatisfied: A Donor Story
Swindled at the MarketI was wandering through a popup farmers market and had no intention of buying olive oil. But she drew me in with her chatty, friendly demeanor. She…
The CFRE Journey
I walked out of the Community College of Philadelphia in mental fog. The summer sun was blinding, and I had to stop and blink a few times to adjust my…
Flourish with Funnels
In many organizations, there is an intense focus on the solicitation – the perfect email, the well-crafted letter, the superb script, the proper placement of the phone number for an…
The AmazonSmile Predicament… and a Solution!
If you have been in fundraising for any length of time, chances are you’ve heard these comments: “Why aren’t we promoting AmazonSmile? It’s such an easy way to raise money.”…
A Regency-Era Crowd Pleaser
“It is a truth universally acknowledged” that Jane Austen and her timeless novels draw devoted fans from around the world. Followers swoon over her brooding, leading men and delight in…
Highlight Reel: Insider’s Guide Presentation
While we can’t deny the devastating impact of the pandemic over the past year, there are a few silver linings to acknowledge. One: the accessibility to conferences and trainings in…
Frazzled Fundraisers Unite!
It was a foggy, gray morning and I was struggling to come up with the next round of fundraising support that I could offer my CharityJen network. I stared at…
The Spaghetti on the Wall
The time: 2008. “Social media was just starting to become mainstream. Facebook had nearly tripled its growth to 145 million users. Twitter grew that year by over 752%. LinkedIn went…
Just Do Something: Lessons in a Pandemic
She closed her eyes and shook her head, "just do SOMETHING," she said, " you just have to do something!" Jeannie Neathery was explaining her organization's pivot to a virtual…
Fundraising Success in a Pandemic
In a recent call with nonprofit consultants from across the county, a frightening statistic was shared: up to 40% of charities might be forced to close because of the pandemic.…